Bust up a cast iron bathtub

[Frank J Warner]

Tiny bathroom renovation. 5-ft built-in 50-year-old cast iron bathtub needs to come out. Because of the configuration, it can't come out in one piece. I need to bust it up.

My SawsAll is on its last legs. Tried cutting some CRS with a metal blade and it just laughed at me.

I have 5-lb. and 10-lb. hammers with sharp cold chisels and the labor to use them but no room to swing the hammers.

I have a right-angle grinder and can put a metal-cutting blade on it. Slow. Noisy. Lots of sparks. Most of all slow.

I also have an OA rig but am afraid of setting the house on fire.

What's the best way to bust one of these suckers up?

-Frank

[The Daring Dufas]

A few well placed explosive shaped charges should do nicely. ^_^

TDD

[Jim Elbrecht]

Get a new sawzall if you must-- and a blade called 'the torch'. Get the blade first- chances are you won't need a new saw.

About 3 'swings' - [not enough room in my bathroom for a SWING] and things started jumping off the shelves in the pantry below the bathroom.

20 minutes with the sawsall & it was in 2 pieces right where I wanted it to split.

Jim

[NotMe]

We loaded up one with dry ice, let it frost over and a few good whacks with a

10# hammer did the job. Note there is a good possibility that a few more whacks of a standard room temp tub would have done the job as well. Cast iron is brittle.

[WW]

[Stormin Mormon]

My old boss, back when I was doing more heating. Said there are some guys who just thrive on busting up old cast iron. tubs, boilers, etc.

Go to Home Depot, and look in the phone book for plumbing wholesale. Ask for phone numbers of guys who love to bust up cast iron.

I've never seen this in person, but boss said that several times, over a period of years. Might be true.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

My SawsAll is on its last legs. Tried cutting some CRS with a metal blade and it just laughed at me.

I have 5-lb. and 10-lb. hammers with sharp cold chisels and the labor to use them but no room to swing the hammers.

I have a right-angle grinder and can put a metal-cutting blade on it. Slow. Noisy. Lots of sparks. Most of all slow.

I also have an OA rig but am afraid of setting the house on fire.

What's the best way to bust one of these suckers up?

-Frank

[Stormin Mormon]

Rental place, electric jack hammer? I mean, to make bore holes for the explosives.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

A few well placed explosive shaped charges should do nicely. ^_^

TDD

[ChairMan]

just busted one out with a sledge hammer 20# got it to busted up a little then it cracked in half and took it out in

2 pieces and a few smaller ones

[Gomba]

Like most others said, a sledge will do it. Besides safety glasses, I would also cover the tub with a tarp, and hit through the cloth tarp. I got this advice after I took a piece of flying/bouncing shrapnel right in the forehead. The tarp does work!

[hrhofmann]

0620121552258441% [e-mail]...

Good Idea!!!

[Jim Elbrecht]

Not been my experience. Even after I got it out of the bathroom where I could take a good over the head swing, it took several whacks to start a crack- and a couple more to break it--- and not where I wanted it to break.

Jim

[Roanin]

I used a pickaxe. Point worked real good.

R

[TomR]

I agree. I did one a couple of years ago.

Go to

and do a search for "cast iron tub removal" and there are lots of links to videos like these on how to do it:

[fred.flintstone]

Make sure all bathers are out of the tub first!!!!

[fred.flintstone]

Too bad you cant get it out in one piece. Cast iron tubs are worth quite a lot of money for resale. And if you do bust it up, sell the metal for scrap. That too is bringing a high price.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Some footed tubs are worth quite a bit. As for scrap, don't get too excited. Cast iron is about the lowest ($200 per ton?) and with a porcelain coating on it. it will be pennies a pound. Last I was it was "no charge" to take it.

[Stormin Mormon]

Bust up the bathers, and sell them for scrap, too?

That could be the ride of a lifetime. Scooter and his brother Stinker are in the tub. Dad comes in, and sledge hammers the tub into pieces, and carries it off. Two days later, the family is in the car, and Stinker calls from the back seat "Hey, Dad! Bust up the car!"

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Make sure all bathers are out of the tub first!!!!

[dennisgauge]

You've talked yourself out of pretty much every rational means of removing the tub, so I guess it's in there permanently...

Come on, how tight is it? It can't possibly be THAT tight that you can't swing a hammer AT ALL. All you need is a couple half-assed hits, and the tub will shatter like a pickle jar.

[Harry K]

0620121552258441% [e-mail]...

I was hoping someone mentioned that. I used a blanket.

Harry K

[Harry K]

g the tub, so I guess it's in there permanently...

swing a hammer AT ALL. All you need is a couple half-assed hits, and the tu= b will shatter like a pickle jar.

Yep. The tub alone has to be wide enough for a fairly good swing on the inside.

Harry K